The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

The Fourth Chapter for Recitation
After washing and drinking, the Teacher came out,
And in the middle of the Community of monks, at the front,
The Teacher, the Gracious One, having taught the Teaching here,
The Great Sage went to the mango wood.
He addressed the monk called Cundaka, (saying):
“Spread out (the robe) folded in four for me to lie down on,”
Cunda, urged by the One with Developed Mind,
Very quickly spread (the robe) folded in four.
The Teacher, very weary, lay down,
With Cunda sat right there at the front.” 137
Then the Gracious One addressed venerable Ānanda, (saying): “It may
be, Ānanda, that someone might cause remorse for the smith Cunda,
(saying): ‘There is no gain for you, friend Cunda, it is a poor gain for
you, in that the Realised One, after eating his last almsfood from you,
attained Final Emancipation.’
If there is remorse for Cunda the Smith, Ānanda, drive it out in this
way, (saying): ‘There is a gain for you, friend Cunda, it is a good gain
for you, in that the Realised One, after eating his last almsfood from
you, attained Final Emancipation. I heard this face to face with the
Gracious One, friend Cunda, I learned it face to face: ‘There are these
two almsfoods which have the very same excellent fruit, have the very
137 Comm: imā pi gāthā Saṅgītikāle yeva ṭhapitā; these verses were placed
(here) at the time of the (First) Council.
137